Aukiliary spark device for ignition systems



R. HAWLEY AND S. SHEINWALD.

AUXILIARY SPARK DEVICE FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

' I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1919.

1,369,025. Patented Feb. 22,1921.

nnirrosrares PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND HAWLEY, 0F CAMBRIDGE AND SYDNEY SHEINWALD, 0F ALLsTo N, MASSAGHUSETTS, .ASSIGNORS T0 SAMUEL W. PBUSSIAN, OF BROOKLINE,

MASSACHUSETTS.

eas es.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb 22, 1921.

Application filed November 15, 1919. Serial No. 338,350.

of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in. Auxiliary Spark Devices for Ignition Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to auxiliary spark devices for ignition systems, more particu larly to spark devices exterior to the en gine for inclosing and confining a ump spark within a closed chamber, the devicebeing connected in series with the timer and the spark plugs of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, to which it is attached.

It has been the practice in connection with the ignition systems of internal combustion engines to employ sparking terminals exterior to the spark plugs, uncovered and hence exposed to the danger of becoming covered with oil thrown from the engine cylinders or other substances and also liable to ignite vapors from escaping gasolene, while the sparking terminals being in the open the jump spark between them is "free to radiate in the air and hence much of its efficiency is lost.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an auxiliary spark device exterior to the engine and in circuit with the timer and spark plug of each cylinder of the engine, having means. for entirely confiningi within a closed chamber the jump spark: passing between the spaced sparking terminals within the chamber.

Another object is to provide means for holding and closing the casing surrounding the sparking terminals, as well as means for holding? the sparking terminals in operative position, comprising a cylindrical cup inclosing each end of the tubular chamber and having centrally mounted therein a sparking terminal 1 Another object is to provide means for readily and quickly connecting, without the use of tools, the auxiliary spark device with each spark plug of an engine and the wire leading to the timer.

Another object is to provide each of'the cylindrical cups with an extended contact portion cooperating respectively with the spark plug and the wire leading to the timer integral with the cylindrical cup and havlng also means for attaching the cylindrical cup and consequently the inclosing casmg to an insulating plate.

In order that the nature of our invention may be clearly understood, we have illustratedan embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Flgure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the auxiliary spark device, showing it in opera-" tive position attached to a spark plug and the wire leading from the timer of an internal combustion engine;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the auxiliary spark device and cooperating parts as shown in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the cylindrical cups and sparking terminals together with integral cooperating parts.

In the drawings, 1 designates a tubular casing, preferably of mica or other suitable insulating material and preferably transparent. Each end of the tubular casing 1 is inserted in a cylindrical cup or socket member 2-3, thereby providing a closed chamber, and each of the cylindrical cups 23 has integrally connected therewith at the base, a laterally extending plate forming a contact flap-or tang 4 provided with a struck-up portion 5 extending downwardly and leaving thereby an elongate opening 6 in the contact portion 4. While the tang 5 has been shown as formed by striking up the metal of the plate lby a punching operation, it is evident thatit may be formed in any otherwell known and desiredmanner. In the base of each cylindrical cup 2-3 and extending'into the tubular casing 1, is centrally mounted a sparking terminal member or wire 7-8 preferably made of nickel-steel,-

' spot-welded to the cups 2-3 and disposed in alinement with the axis of the tubular chamher 1, the sparking terminals. 78 being spaced apart so as to leave a sparking gap between them.

An important advantage is obtained by closely confining the jump spark within the closed tubular chamber 1, since by so doing the air surrounding the sparking terminals 78 is heated and kept ionized, the heat.

not radiating as it would if the sparking terminals -7-.8 were not inclosed and therefore the duration of the spark. will be increased, which will consequently cause the spark plug to produce a hotter spark within the engine cylinder and thus increase the power and efliciency of the engine.

Below the tubular'chamber 1 is located an insulating plate 9 of chemically treated fiber, rubber or other suitable material, having near each end an opening through each of which one of the struck-up portions 5 is inserted and bent back so as to engage the under side of the insulating plate 9, thereby attaching the tubular chamber 1 and the cylindrical cups 2 and 3 securely to the insulating plate. Each of the laterally extending contact portions 4 extends to an end of the insulating plate 9, while one end of each elongate opening 6 therein coincides with an opening in the insulating plate 9, adjacent to each end. One end of the insulating plate 9 is attached to a spark plug S by a binding post, the'threaded post 15 of which is adapted to pass through its opening in the insulating plate 9 and the elongate opening 6 of the contact portion 4 of the cylindrical cup 2, and the parts are then secured in operative position by the clamping nut 16, by which electrical connection is established, through the contact portion 4 and the binding post 14, between the spark plug S and the sparking terminal member 7 In like manner the contact portion 4 of the cylindrical cup 3' is electrically connected with a wire 17, leading to the timer, by a binding post 18 having a circular base 19 engaging the under side of the insulating plate 9., a threaded post 20 inserted in its opening in the insulating plate 9, and the elongate opening 6, and a clamping nut 21, by means of which the wire 17 is clamped to the contact portion 4 and thus is established electrical connection with the timer. \Vhen the electrical circuit from the timer to the spark plug S has thus been completed the sparking terminals 7 and S are entirely inclosed within the tubular chamber 1, the jump spark between the terminals 7 and 8 being closely confined within the tubular chamber 1 and thus unaffected by the outside air, oil or other extraneous substances.

Moreover, the binding posts 14 and 1800- operating with the openings in said insulating plate and the elongate opening 6 in each contact portion 4 afford ready means for communicating the auxiliary spark device with the spark plug S and the wire 17 lead in to the timer without the use of tools.

e claim:

1. A spark device particularly intended for use in series with spark plugs of internal combustion engines comprising in combination a tubular casing, sparking terminals therein, a cylindrical cup or socket inspark plugs of internal combustion engines comprising in combination a tubular casing,

sparking terminals therein, a cylindrical,

cup inclosing each end of the said casing, a contact element extending laterally from each cup and having an elongate opening therein, a flexible tang depending from said element adjacent an end of said opening, an insulating plate provided with openings for the reception of the respective tangs, said tangs projecting through said openings and having their free extremities substantially parallel 'with the underside thereof, said plate also being provided with portions of an opening adjacent each end and alining with the respective elongate openings of the contact elements, said pairs of openings being constructed and arranged for the reception of binding posts for the terminals of electric conductors.

3. In a device of the class described in combination with a base, a terminal support comprising a contact plate having an opening therein for the passage of a. binding post, a member outstanding from said plate and projecting through an opening in said base and having its free extremity lying in engagement with a surface of said base, a.

socket secured to said plate and a sparking terminal arranged axially within said socket and integrally united with the latter.

4. In a device of the class described, a base member, a pair of substantially cylindrical socket members each provided with a laterally extending contact plate, a'tang outstanding from each of said plates. said tang passing through an opening in said base member and having its free extremity engaging the under side thereof, sparking terminals extending axially from the respective socket members and arranged substantially -in alinement, and a translucent tubular casing of frangible material having its opposite ends seated within the respective socket members and inclosing said sparking terminals.

Signed by us at Boston, Massachusetts,

this 12th day ofNovember, 1919.

RAYMOND HAVLEY. SYDNEY SHEINVVALD. 

